New graduation Credit Hour Requirements FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

This change, which the University has researched extensively, puts Loyola on par with other national universities and colleges (national norm is 120 credit hours), as most of Loyola’s peer institutions, including other Jesuit colleges, are now at less than 128 credit hours.

The University is also committed to offering students an academic experience that allows them to complete their degree work within a four-year timeframe, and this change in credit requirements will better enable them to achieve that goal. We are also committed to improving the overall student experience at Loyola, and this change will allow students more opportunities to seek out an internship, become active in one of Loyola’s more than 175 student organizations, participate in service projects, or simply devote extra time to their studies.

Yes. Due to the nature of some majors and required support courses, some degrees cannot be completed within 120 hours (i.e. Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Education). The new policy establishes the minimum number of hours for an undergraduate degree. Check your academic advisement report in LOCUS for your specific requirements for graduation. If you don’t know about the academic advisement report, click here for more information and instructions on how to use it.

In most cases, students will be able to graduate with 120 hours by reducing the number of general electives. However, the student should be sure that all degree requirements (i.e. residency hours, Core Curriculum, major/minor courses) are met.